Archemix Earns Milestone Payment from Initiation of Phase 1 Clinical Trial by Ophthotech.CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Archemix Corp., a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing aptamer therapeutics, announced today that it will receive a milestone payment from its collaborator Ophthotech Corp. The milestone payment has been triggered by Ophthotech's enrollment of the first volunteer in a Phase 1 study of E10030, an anti-platelet derived growth factor (PDGF PDGF platelet-derived growth factor; interacting with cell surface receptors and stimulating hydrolysis of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3). ) aptamer which is being developed for age related macular degeneration macular degeneration, eye disorder causing loss of central vision. The affected area, the macula, lies at the back of the retina and is the part that produces the sharpest vision. (AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, www.amd.com) A major manufacturer of semiconductor devices including x86-compatible CPUs, embedded processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices and networking chips. ). The Phase 1 trial is testing the safety and tolerability of E10030 in combination with an anti-vascular endothelial endothelial /en·do·the·li·al/ (-the´le-al) pertaining to or made up of endothelium. Endothelial A layer of cells that lines the inside of certain body cavities, for example, blood vessels. growth factor (VEGF VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor. ) agent. This trial will enroll up to a maximum of 36 patients. E10030, is an aptamer-based compound directed against PDGF-B. Pharmacology studies indicate that E10030 binds to PDGF-B with high specificity and affinity and inhibits the functions of PDGF-B both in vitro in vitro /in vi·tro/ (in ve´tro) [L.] within a glass; observable in a test tube; in an artificial environment. in vi·tro adj. In an artificial environment outside a living organism. and in vivo. In preclinical studies, E10030 demonstrated the potential to regress REGRESS. Returning; going back opposed to ingress. (q.v.) neovascularization when used in combination with a VEGF-A inhibitor. In experiments involving models of ocular vascularization vascularization /vas·cu·lar·iza·tion/ (vas?ku-ler-i-za´shun) 1. the process of becoming vascular. 2. angiogenesis. 3. the surgically induced development of vessels in a tissue. , concurrent inhibition of PDGF-B and VEGF-A signaling was superior to inhibition of the VEGF-A pathway alone. "We are pleased that Ophthotech has advanced E10030 into clinical trials," commented Dr. Errol De Souza, President and Chief Executive Officer of Archemix. "Ophthotech is our second collaborator to advance an aptamer into human clinical trials thus far in 2008 and, overall, E10030 becomes the fourth aptamer being tested in humans by our collaborators." Ophthotech is solely responsible for further development and commercialization of E10030. However, Archemix is eligible to receive additional milestone payments if the program advances further in clinical trials and will also receive royalties on any sales of E10030. E10030 is the first of two aptamers Ophthotech is developing under license from Archemix. The second aptamer ARC1905, an anti-complement aptamer is in preclinical development for AMD. Ophthotech plans to initiate a Phase 1 study of ARC1905 in the second half of 2008. About Aptamers Aptamers are synthetically-derived oligonucleotides, or short nucleic acid sequences, that bind to protein targets with high affinity and specificity and can be designed to have a specified duration of action. Aptamers represent an emerging class of potential therapeutic agents that Archemix believes may have broad application to treat a variety of human diseases. About Archemix Archemix is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing aptamer therapeutics. Using Archemix's proprietary processes for discovering aptamers, which are protected by its patent portfolio, Archemix is developing aptamer product candidates for cardiovascular and hematological hematological, hematologic pertaining to or emanating from blood cells. hematological tests total and differential white cell counts, hematocrit estimation, erythrocyte count. diseases and cancer. In addition, Archemix has licensed its intellectual property to third parties to develop their own aptamer product candidates. To date, Archemix has licensed its intellectual property to discover and develop aptamer product candidates to nine biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Merck Serono, Nuvelo, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Ophthotech and Elan Pharma. |
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